Farmers’ compensation moves forward

Farmer of 32 years, Bernard Watson stands among damaged banana trees in one of several fruit producing fields on his Yigo farm on May 20, 2015. Watson says about 4,000 banana tree and other agricultural producing plants, on his eight-acre farm, are a "total loss" after being damaged by high winds during the passage of Typhoon Dolphin on Friday. Watson says, with the materials, labor and the destroyed crop, he estimates a financial loss of $200,000 at his farm.(Photo: PDN file)

Relief will come soon to farmers whose crops were affected by Typhoon Dolphin.

Department of Agriculture Director Matt Sablan said Thursday that his department has completed its calculations of funds for farmers who applied for relief and that the paperwork will now head to the Department of Administration, which will issue checks.

He did not know how soon DOA would issue the checks.

The Department of Agriculture received $212,500 from the local government’s general fund to help farmers whose crops were damaged from Typhoon Dolphin in May 2015.

Farmers had until Dec. 23 to request for compensation from the department.

Receipts required

To receive funding, farmers had to register with the Agriculture department. They also had to submit expenditure receipts, proof of sales receipts and claim applications.

The agency has helped dozens of farmers who’ve been affected by storms over the years.

Department of Agriculture officials have recommended farmers always save receipts so they have records of their spending. They also recommend the shoebox approach, which is putting receipts in a shoebox whenever they purchase items for the farm.

The agency cannot reimburse farmers if they don’t have the receipts to back up their claims. The agency also recommends farmers make sure their receipts have the business name, date of purchase and what they purchased.

About 94 claims were filed, but only about 60 had all the necessary documents, he said.

Sablan asked the farmers to have patience as the government works to get their money.